The Drawing Board #8
I moved, Don't give up, True Blue
Welcome to my newsletter where I share my personal creative process. I hope to inspire you to pick up a pen, paint brush or spatula and create something spectacular.
I moved…
…and I’m writing to you from my new place.
A change in environment can really be great for creativity, and I’ve been really excited to do some interior decorating. Bringing furniture, art and other physical stuff from a previous home and setting it all up in a new home is a great creative exercise. All the stuff feels new again, especially when the stuff is propped up against a fully mirrored wall (because now it looks like I have double the things). That’s right, I get to do some Kelly Wearstler magic here.
After reading Jonny Sun’s essay Moving from his book Goodbye, Again, I’ve been inspired to write an essay to process my thoughts and emotions around moving out of my Heavy Heirloom, my grandpa’s house. The essay will be published this week, so stay tuned.
Thank you Sandra for sending me Jonny Sun’s book <3
Don’t Give Up
Yes, I’ve shared this before. But it’s becoming a recurring theme in my creative process. I tried to challenge myself to a daily painting and got frustrated immediately on day 1. I spent a few hours on this sunflower painting below, and this is all I have to show for it.
Most of my time was spent setting up the grid between the picture and the canvas, then drawing the sunflower on the canvas with the right proportions. Then it took me around an hour to color in the drawing with paint to the level of detail you see in the image on the right.
I got frustrated because I set impossibly high expectations for myself. The canvas is much smaller than I’m used to, a mere 11x14 inches - half the size of the pink peony I finished painting last week (below).
The peony painting was finished in around 8 hours - two painting classes that are 3 hours each, plus an additional 2 hours at home to refine some details. This sunflower couldn’t possibly take that long, it should only take HALF the time… so I thought.
I got frustrated. I wanted to give up and paint something else.
But then I remembered my painting of Casper…
…and I’m reminded to never give up. Creative work takes time. Sometimes it takes longer than you think it should take. But the more you do it, the quicker you become, and the less frustrated you become.
True Blue
As you know by now, I am a HUGE fan of Sunday Candy. This week Sandra shared a song in her playlist called True Blue by Boygenius. Listening to the chorus resonated with me and got me reflecting on my closest relationships this Valentine’s Day:
And it feels good to be known so well
I can't hide from you like I hide from myself
I remember who I am when I'm with you
Your love is tough, your love is tried and true blue
Enjoy the song below, and check out the playlist in Sunday Candy.
Your peony is spectacular 🤩 And I love this lil peek inside your groovy new home
Loved the whole "don't give up" theme. You put it in such a visual and memorable way!
And excited to read about your musings on moving, it's such an interesting topic :)